Lithium de France, a project developed by Arverne in Alsace, has entered into a scientific partnership with the Karlsruher Institute für Technologie (KIT) to deepen the understanding and monitoring of induced seismicity in the Upper Rhine Graben.
An innovative seismic monitoring system deployed at the Schwabwiller site
The research programme is based on the installation, at the Schwabwiller geothermal drilling site, of a monitoring system combining seismological sensors and instrumented fibre-optic technology. This system enhances and complements the permanent seismic monitoring network already deployed as part of the Lithium de France project.
The initiative also benefits from the support of GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung, a leading German research organisation in geosciences, which provides seismic instruments from its Geophysical Instrument Pool (GIPP).
Next-generation technologies to better characterise the subsurface
This scientific partnership pursues a dual objective: to improve knowledge of subsurface structures and properties; and to test next-generation seismic monitoring technologies.
Instrumented fibre-optic systems enable continuous recording of ground movements and deformations over several kilometres. This technology effectively transforms the fibre into a dense network of seismic sensors, offering the potential for unprecedented spatial resolution. These systems open up new analytical perspectives through the processing of large data volumes using machine learning methods. The use of fibre optics as a seismic monitoring tool is currently one of the most innovative and dynamic areas of research in seismology.
A European scientific collaboration serving the energy transition
By combining the expertise of Lithium de France and KIT, which is internationally recognised for its leading research in geothermal energy within the Upper Rhine Graben, this project represents a structuring initiative to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of seismic monitoring.
The data collected will be jointly analysed by the teams from both partners, with the aim of further improving the understanding of the regional geothermal system.
This partnership illustrates Arverne’s commitment, through the Lithium de France project, to drawing on the best European scientific expertise to support the responsible development of geothermal energy and contribute to a sustainable energy transition.
